DH and I were discussing audio books this morning (in part b/c I'd left the case for the latest "read" that the kids and I are listening to at his place and it is unabridged except for taking out things like "s/he said" which aren't necessary when it's a full-cast book).
Which led to a discussion of what my grown-up books do when they change to audio and how well readers do (or don't) distinguish each character's voice.
My observations are that more recent recordings seem to make more effort to dramatize the reading -- not over-dramatize, just make it more than a simple recording of someone reading a book. Of course, I've listened to less than 100 books and a LOT of them are recent recordings, so my sample isn't adequate for a study . . .
Those of you who have been listening more or longer, what do you think? Are audio books getting better? Or have I just been lucky?
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We listen all the time!
Our library has a HUGE selection of audiobooks.
But it's a recent phenomenon, so I can't say for sure if they're getting better. Some of the adult books make me crazy. My DH listens to Robert B. Parker. While I love to read his stuff, he never uses anything BUT "he said" "she said" "jesse said" etc. And those are in the audiobooks. Makes me want to scream, especially with one or two word sentences (ie "Did you?" Jesse said. "Yes." she said.) that he uses in a whole conversation! JD Robb's books are great, and I've enjoyed the one or two Janet Evanovich ones I've listened to. And the Clive Cussler ones are pretty good too. The reader has a really gravelly voice, but it's perfect for the story.
I especially love juvenile audio books. We just finished Guillaume Prevost's The Book of Time. It was great! And the Stink books by Megan McDonald (Judy Moody is Stink's sister) are great -- the audio is by the woman who does Bart Simpson. She's full cast all by herself, LOL! Bruce Coville also has some good ones.
I have one audible by Megan Hart I haven't listened to yet...need to wait for no kiddos around! My mp3 player won't play it, UGH! That's what I get for not getting a better one!!!
Can you tell I love them?
We keep one in the car for running around town, and we take a bunch on road trips. Plus, they're wonderful for my DH. He loves to read, but he's a painfully slow reader -- I think he's an undiagnosed dyslexic. But he's found a great way to "read" -- and to be able to read more! -- in audiobooks.
JodieG
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I'm going to have to look at some of
the ones you mentioned for the kids. We listen all the time in the car and mine aren't appropriate for them.
Re the "he said" stuff -- that's exactly what dh is afraid of . . . with good cause. So much of what I listen to is either first person or well-written enough that I couldn't even tell him when he asked this morning how it's handled (kept in? edited out?) on what I've listened to. Which kind of reinforces my opinion that Harl. Ent. books are so tightly edited to begin with (most of the time) that there's nothing left to edit(abridge) out when it's made into an audio book.
Did you see the sale at audible.com this weekend? I subscribe and usually their sales aren't any better than just using a credit but I'll be buying (with $$ not credits) 2 or 3 books (all Harlequin).
We've finally bo't a new Mac so as soon as we get around to buying Windows to go with it, I'll be able to download from our library as well as check things out. That will really give me a lot of choice -- cassette, CD, and downloadable from my library plus my audible purchases.
Penn, waiting for someone else to weigh in on the original question
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Hmmmm
I don't know if I'd say they're getting better. Maybe the same? I've only been listening for 4 or 5 years, but I've listened to many that were recorded prior to that (probably most actually). I think its all in the reader. I can say, for myself, that there has only been a few I didn't care for at all. And I don't think I've listened to many with the "he said/she said" deal. Of course, maybe I did in the beginning and don't remember? I can't speak for kids books, as I haven't listened to them on audio yet.
My only complaint is if you are listening to a series and they change the reader. I was listening to the Plum series, and CJ Critt does the first 7 books, and they changed distributors (I think), so its someone else. Not that she's bad, just I already had voices in my head (which I can still hear when I'm reading the new stuff). I find that the only drawback.
Jodie - I found the Parker reference funny. I had just picked up a Spare Change (?) to listen to at work, and my coworker listened first. She hated the "he/she" deal. Said I'd be better off reading it, as she liked the story - just not that
Amanda
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